Dealing with a clogged drain can be a huge source of stress. You have two options- call a plumber or try to handle the problem yourself. One of the most common ways people try to deal with this issue is by buying an over-the-counter clog remover.
Zep Liquid Heat and Drano are two of the most powerful and popular clog removers on the market. Both are strong and effective cleaners, so we’re going to do a thorough review on each product. After answering some pressing comparison questions, we’ll determine which is the best drain cleaner for you.
Are you curious what the difference is between Zep Liquid Heat and Drano? We have the answers to all your questions about these two products! Let’s dive into what makes these products unique and which is the better drain cleaner.
What’s The Difference Between Zep Liquid Heat and Drano?
Drano and Zep Liquid Heat are very similar products. They have similar ingredients, work on the same types of drains, and eliminate the same types of clogs. But, there is a key difference between these two products.
Drano has a foaming agent in their ingredients that works to shift and eliminate clogs. Zep Liquid Heat has a more gel-like consistency, which allows it to cling to clogs better and eliminate them more fully.
We’ll get into their ingredients and how their differences affect their effectiveness further in this guide. First, let’s take a look at both companies and review these products.
History of Zep
Zep was founded in 1937 by three entrepreneurs. Mandle Zaban, William Eplan, and Saul Powell created Zep with the intention of creating a comprehensive line of industrial and home cleaning products. They sought to offer products of superior chemical composition, excellent customer service, and unmatched technical support.
National Service Industries acquired Zep in 1962, and from there, the company expanded. They began incorporating other products into their lines, including products for gardening and automobile care. In 2015, Zep Inc became a private company, which opened the doors for them to expand their product lines even further.
Zep Liquid Heat 
Zep Liquid Heat is comprised of a powerful gel formula that’s guaranteed to cling to and eliminate tough clogs and obstructions from your drains. It’s perfectly suited for use in your kitchen sink, where food debris tends to create some of the toughest clogs.
It’s also perfect for bathroom sinks and tubs where hair and soap scum combine to create immovable clogs. Zep Liquid Heat works even in standing water where there’s zero drainage happening.
This product is safe to use with pipes and septic systems and usually works in less than 10 minutes! When you have a powerful clog preventing water from draining, this product will eliminate the clog without damaging your drains.
You can get this product in a few different sizes, including a quart, 64 ounces, and 128 ounces. It’s recommended to use gloves and safety glasses when handling Zep Liquid Heat.
How To Use Zep Liquid Heat?
Some products come with complex instructions and make caring for your home a chore. Zep Liquid Heat has only three simple instructions. Follow these simple steps when using this product:
1. Pour 16 ounces of Zep Liquid Heat into the drain
2. Wait for 15 minutes
3. Thoroughly flush the drain with hot water
It’s that easy! It’s also recommended using certain safety equipment when working with this product, so you should make sure to have your gloves and safety glasses on before beginning with step 1.
What Are The Ingredients In Zep Liquid Heat?
There are only a few ingredients in Zep Liquid Heat, but they’re powerful chemicals. After all, that’s the reason that this product is so effective! Here’s the list of ingredients found in this product:
- Water
- Sodium Hypochlorite
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Potassium Hydroxide
The final two ingredients listed are the most powerful. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are powerful caustic chemicals. We’ll get into more details about this later in this guide.
Is Zep Liquid Heat Toxic?
Unfortunately, the powerful chemicals that make this product so effective also make it toxic. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are very powerful caustic chemicals. They can pose a serious risk to your health if you don’t handle this product carefully.
According to their Safety Data Sheet, these chemicals are considered carcinogenic, which means it has to potential to cause cancer. It can also cause burns or irritation to the skin when handled improperly.
Whenever you handle such a powerful cleaner, it’s essential to be cautious. Always use the recommended safety equipment, and handle the cleaner with care.
Drano
The very first Drano product was launched in 1923. Harry Drackett developed this product with a desire to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly products. He released the Drano Aerosol Plunger in the late 1960s and believed that this product would be the key to an eco-friendly clog remover.
However, the product was a CFC product, and this was later discovered to be less eco-friendly than Drackett thought. He continued producing new products, and the company was eventually sold to SC Johnson in 1992.
Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner
Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner is a powerful cleaning agent that’s effective at removing hair, food particles, and other physical debris that causes tough clogs. This product is safe to use in garbage disposals, bathroom sinks & tubs, kitchen sinks, and other drains in the home, such as laundry sinks.
This cleaner starts going to work as soon as it makes contact with the clog. Within 15-30 minutes, the clog should be completely eliminated or mostly dissolved. You can use Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner in homes with septic tanks, and it won’t damage plastic or PVC pipes, even when used overnight.
In an attempt to be more eco-friendly, this product is free of phosphates, which is a potential cause of harm for rivers and lakes. It’s recommended not to use this product when children or pets are around, and to never use a plunger immediately after using Drano.
How To Use Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner?
This product is a powerful cleaner, so understanding how to use it properly is essential. We’re going to walk you through how to use Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner step-by-step.
1. Place your palm on the childproof cap and turn counterclockwise. Be cautious not to let the product splash or spill.
2. Pour 16oz into a slow-flowing drain. For drains where movement has stopped entirely, pour all 32oz into the drain.
3. Wait 15 for slow-flowing drains. Allow 30 minutes for tougher problems.
4. Thoroughly flush the drain with hot water. Repeat steps 2-4 as necessary.
It’s also advisable not to flush your garbage disposal with hot water after using this product. Instead, if the problem persists, you should contact a plumber. Don’t turn your garbage disposal on because some of the Drano may still be present and splash back.
What Are The Ingredients In Drano?
Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner is a powerful cleaning agent, and it contains multiple strong chemicals. It’s helpful to know what you’re working with, so here’s a list of the ingredients found in this product:
- Water
- Polydimethylsiloxane
- Sodium Silicate
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Hypochlorite
The final two ingredients in this product are both caustic, which means that it can cause burning if it comes into contact with your skin. You should always be cautious when working with a product like Drano, and it’s recommended to wear safety glasses and gloves when handling this product.
Is Drano Toxic?
Just as with Zep Liquid Heat, the powerful ingredients that make Drano such an effective clog remover also make it a toxic substance. Certain ingredients, such as sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, are caustic and have the potential to cause serious burns and irritation.
According to their Safety Data Sheet, it is necessary to use certain personal protective equipment while working with Drano. You should wear splash-resistant goggles, strong rubber gloves, and protective footwear in case of splash-back.
Comparison Questions (Zep Liquid Heat vs Drano):
Is Zep Liquid Heat or Drano More Affordable?
In this economy, finding the most affordable product is a must! Drano and Zep Liquid Heat both come in different sizes, so comparing their obvious price points isn’t the most effective way to determine which is more affordable.
Instead, we’re going to break down the price of each to see their cost per ounce. Here’s a table showing this breakdown:
| Brand | Price Per Ounce |
| Zep Liquid Heat | $0.34 |
| Drano | $0.31 |
As you can see, Drano is slightly more affordable than Zep Liquid Heat. The difference is only a few cents, which may not seem like much, but when you’re using an entire bottle in one sitting, that price will certainly add up over time!
Which Cleaner Is More Powerful?
Zep Liquid Heat and Drano are both powerful cleaners with very similar ingredients. However, Zep Liquid Heat has a gel-like consistency, while Drano is a foaming cleaner. Looking at customer reviews, it appears that Zep Liquid Heat’s gel formula is the more powerful cleaner.
It’s more effective at clinging to tough clogs and fully eliminating them. Zep Liquid Heat also works more quickly than Drano, and can remove even the toughest of clogs.
Which Product Is More Environmentally Friendly?
Drano and Zep Liquid Heat are both powerful cleaners that contain toxic ingredients. Neither is very eco-friendly, however Drano is free of phosphates and owned by SC Johnson. As a company, SC Johnson is very focused on sustainability and environmental consciousness, so it stands to reason that Drano would be the more eco-friendly product.
Related Questions:
Are Zep Liquid Heat And Drano Safe For Septic Systems?
Both of these products are safe to use with septic systems. You can use these products with PVC and other plastic pipes without worrying about damaging them. Drano actually has an additional ingredient that’s specifically in place to prevent corrosion to your pipers, which is why their product is safe to leave in overnight.
Do You Need To Wear PPE With Both?
It is recommended that you wear some personal protective equipment while working with Zep Liquid Heat and Drano. Both companies encourage you to wear safety goggles and strong rubber gloves while using their products. It’s also recommended to wear protective footwear in case of splash back.
The Verdict – Which Is Better?
When you have a seemingly immovable clog that needs eliminating, finding the best drain cleaner is a must! Zep Liquid Heat and Drano are both powerful cleaners that appear to work well for this purpose.
However, Zep Liquid Heat has a unique gel formula that allows it to cling to and remove clogs better than Drano. Zep’s product also has a tendency to work more quickly. So, if you’re looking for an effective and quick clog remover, then Zep Liquid Heat is the perfect product for you!
Read Our Related Articles:
- How Long to Flush Drano with Hot Water
- Can I Leave Drano Overnight?
- Does Drano Work in Standing Water?
- Is Drano Safe for Shower Drains?
- Does Drano Expire? Everything You Need to Know
- Does Drano Work on Hair? All You Need to Know
- Is Drano Bad for the Environment?
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.